The 2019 Grammy nominations have landed, and with their arrival comes bad news for a few artists thought to be front-runners this year.

Author:
Maeve McDermott, USA TODAY

Published:
8:17 AM CST December 7, 2018

Updated:
9:56 AM CST December 7, 2018

The 2019 Grammy nominations have landed, and with their arrival comes bad news for a few artists thought to be front-runners this year.

Considering the drama that could've potentially unfolded on the 2019 Grammys stage on Feb. 10, it's a shame. Beyonce won't get the chance to avenge her album of the year loss to Adele in 2017 with a win as The Carters. Taylor Swift and Kanye West won't be writing a new chapter in their rivalry with a face-off in the main categories. Ariana Grande has only two chances to win her first Grammy.

And beyond the celebrity storylines, a number of the year's best albums simply didn't get the recognition they deserve.

Beyonce and Jay-Z

The Recording Academy has showered Beyonce and Jay-Z with nominations over the years for their solo efforts, but didn’t appear to care much for “Everything Is Love,” the collaborative album the married couple released together as The Carters earlier this year. Fans seeking retribution for Beyonce’s “Lemonade” album of the year loss -- or for Jay leaving the 2018 Grammys empty-handed despite his eight nominations -- won’t find much solace in this year’s race, with “Everything is Love” getting shut out of the main categories.

Taylor Swift

Beyond Beyonce, one of the Grammys’ biggest snubs this year is the lack of recognition for Taylor Swift, the two-time album of the year winner who has historically had strong showings at the awards. That’s not the case this year, with her underrated 2017 release “Reputation” earning just one Grammy nomination, for best pop vocal album. Perhaps the writing was on the wall for Swift when “Look What You Made Me Do,” her “Reputation” single that was eligible for the previous year’s Grammys, didn’t earn any nominations either. Still, the absence of “Reputation” and singles like “Delicate” from the main categories isn’t what any Grammys watchers would’ve expected.

Kanye West

For all of his influence, Kanye West has never won a Grammy in one of the major categories, with all his wins limited to the rap and R&B categories. That isn’t going to change this year, with West earning just one Grammy nomination -- the 69th of his career -- in the best non-classical producer category, for his work on his G.O.O.D Music label’s slate of releases from Pusha T, Nas and Teyana Taylor, as well as his own album “Ye” and his “Kids See Ghosts” record with Kid Cudi. The Recording Academy didn’t feel strongly enough about “Ye” to nominate the album for any awards, though Pusha T’s “Daytona,” the best of the G.O.O.D Music releases, deservedly got nominated for best rap album.

Ariana Grande

Grande spent 2018 releasing some of the best music of her career, but the Recording Academy wasn't sweet enough on “Sweetener” to include it in any major categories. Her new album only earned two nominations this year, in the best pop vocal album category, and "God Is A Woman" was nominated for Best Pop Solo Performance. Perhaps slightly unfairly, her only other mention in the nominations is for Pharrell Williams, who produced much of "Sweetener," and his nod for best non-classical producer. Grande has never won a Grammy, and the 2019 awards may not be her place to start.

Chris Stapleton

Alongside Musgraves, Stapleton had the best shot at getting a nomination in the main categories. And while his “From A Room: Volume 2” release earned him two nominations in the country fields, he didn't break through to the album of the year category.

Justin Timberlake

A third Grammy nomination for Chris Stapleton actually comes from “Say Something,” his debut with Justin Timberlake, nominated for best pop duo/group performance. Unfortunately, that’s the only nomination for Timberlake and his “Man of the Woods” album this year.